School lunch
Ark Oval prides itself in providing pupils with flavoursome lunches which are cooked fresh on site on a daily basis by our in-house chef. The menu is served on a three-week rotation, updated each half term and is designed to provide a well-balanced nutritious meal each day. There are 3 daily options consisting of; Meaty Halal main, Vegetarian main or Jacket Potato, a selection of vegetable sides and salads to complement each meal followed by a choice of either fruit or dessert.
From our Reception to Ks2, all children are provided with a separate plate and bowl and are taught how to dine in a social and respectful way. We also provide signposting to the termly school menu, nutritional facts and advise and guidance support throughout the lunch hall.
The Menu
All pupils will be able to enjoy a healthy, freshly-cooked lunch. The price of a school lunch is £2.40 per day/£12.00 per week. Details of how to pay for school lunches are available from the school office.
Menu from now until March 2023 attached as below:
AOPA Menu Aut_Spr 2022 2023.pdf
Pupils may bring a packed lunch if their parents prefer although we would encourage all children to have school dinners where possible as research shows that a school lunch is nutritionally superior to most packed lunches and can lead to improved behaviour attainment. Please see below for our Whole School Food Policy and Parent Leaflet for Healthy Lunch Boxes.
Healthy Lunch box leaflet (1).pdf
Please be aware that if you send your child to school with grapes, they must be cut up at least in half but ideally into quarters. This is the advice of many doctors and CAPT as whole grapes are a choking hazard. Without wishing to alarm you, the size and shape of grapes means that they can completely plug young children’s airways, with a tight seal produced by the fruit’s smooth, flexible surface. This makes them tricky to shift with first aid manoeuvres.
Please DO NOT bring in products that contain nuts, peanut butter, nut bars, mixed fruit and nuts and cakes and biscuits that contain nuts as we have some very generous children who are more than willing to share their lunch with other pupils. There is always a danger that a child may have an allergy that they are not aware of, we wish to try and eliminate the risk as much as possible therefore please support us with this polite request.
For further information about nut allergies please click here.
Free School Meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
From September 2014 the new nationwide scheme ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’ will be available.
This will mean that all children attending school in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of income or eligibility for benefits.
To read our letter informing you about Free School Meals please click here.
For more information about Croydon Free School Meals please click here.
For further information about Nutritionist Resources in your area please click here.
